Why Colts fans should be excited about Darius Leonard

The Indianapolis Colts selected former South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard with the 36th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Leonard is a rangy linebacker with the athleticism to boot. Leonard does his best work when playing in space. His sideline-to-sideline ability makes him a great fit to play in today’s pass-happy NFL. The Colts could be viewing Leonard as a hybrid-safety type, a position that has become increasingly more popular with each passing season.

Leonard possesses excellent speed and changes direction with ease. Leonard routinely fires downhill and shoots the gap effectively. He has loose hips that he uses to mirror his man in coverage. Leonard has a high football IQ. He’s quick to diagnose plays as they develop. He’s also shown the ability to get after the quarterback when sent on blitzes.

This pick may seem like a reach to some, but Leonard is today’s linebacker.

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